ll； pardoned all； and merely asked of Providence； of man； of the law； of society； of nature； of the world； one thing； that Cosette might love him！
That Cosette might continue to love him！
That God would not prevent the heart of the child from ing to him； and from remaining with him！ Beloved by Cosette； he felt that he was healed； rested； appeased； loaded with benefits； repensed； crowned。
Beloved by Cosette； it was well with him！
He asked nothing more！
Had any one said to him：
〃Do you want anything better？〃 he would have answered： 〃No。〃 God might have said to him：
〃Do you desire heaven？〃 and he would have replied：
〃I should lose by it。〃
Everything which could affect this situation； if only on the surface； made him shudder like the beginning of something new。
He had never known very distinctly himself what the beauty of a woman means； but he understood instinctively； that it was something terrible。
He gazed with terror on this beauty； which was blossoming out ever more triumphant and superb beside him； beneath his very eyes； on the innocent and formidable brow of that child； from the depths of her homeliness； of his old age； of his misery； of his reprobation。
He said to himself：
〃How beautiful she is！
What is to bee of me？〃
There； moreover； lay the difference between his tenderness and the tenderness of a mother。
What he beheld with anguish； a mother would have gazed upon with joy。
The first symptoms were not long in making their appearance。
On the very morrow of the day on which she had said to herself： 〃Decidedly I am beautiful！〃
Cosette began to pay attention to her toilet。
She recalled the remark of that passer…by： 〃Pretty； but badly dressed；〃 the breath of an oracle which had passed beside her and had vanished； after depositing in her heart one of the two germs which are destined； later on； to fill the whole life of woman； coquetry。
Love is the other。
With faith in her beauty； the whole feminine soul expanded within her。 She conceived a horror for her merinos； and shame for her plush hat。 Her father had never refused her anything。
She at once acquired the whole science of the bonnet； the gown； the mantle； the boot； the cuff； the stuff which is in fashion； the color which is being； that science which makes of the Parisian woman something so charming； so deep； and so dangerous。
The words heady woman were invented for the Parisienne。
In less than a month； little Cosette； in that Thebaid of the Rue de Babylone； was not only one of the prettiest； but one of the 〃best dressed〃 women in Paris； which means a great deal more。
She would have liked to encounter her 〃passer…by；〃 to see what he would say； and to 〃teach him a lesson！〃
The truth is； that she was ravishing in every respect； and that she distinguished the difference between a bonnet from Gerard and one from Herbaut in the most marvellous way。
Jean Valjean watched these ravages with anxiety。
He who felt that he could never do anything but crawl； walk at the most； beheld wings sprouting on Cosette。
Moreover； from the mere inspection of Cosette's toilet； a woman would have recognized the fact that she had no mother。 Certain little proprieties； certain special conventionalities； were not observed by Cosette。
A mother； for instance； would have told her that a young girl does not dress in damask。
The first day that Cosette went out in her black damask gown and mantle； and her white crape bonnet； she took Jean Valjean's arm； gay； radiant； rosy； proud； dazzling。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃how do you like me in this guise？〃
Jean Valjean replied in a voice which resembled the bitter voice of an envious man：
〃Charming！〃
He was the same as usual during their walk。
On their return home； he asked Cosette：
〃Won't you put on that other gown and bonnet again；you know the ones I mean？〃
This took place in Cosette's chamber。
Cosette turned towards the wardrobe where her cast…off schoolgirl's clothes were hanging。
〃That disguise！〃 said she。
〃Father； what do you want me to do with it？ Oh no； the idea！
I shall never put on those horrors again。 With that machine on my head； I have the air of Madame Mad…dog。〃
Jean Valjean heaved a deep sigh。
From that moment forth； he noticed that Cosette； who had always heretofore asked to remain at home； saying：
〃Father； I enjoy myself more here with you；〃 now was always asking to go out。
In fact； what is the use of having a handsome face and a delicious costume if one does not display them？
He also noticed that Cosette had no longer the same taste for the back garden。
Now she preferred the garden； and did not dislike to promenade back and forth in front of the railed fence。 Jean Valjean； who was shy； never set foot in the garden。 He kept to his back yard； like a dog。
Cosette； in gaining the knowledge that she was beautiful； lost the grace of ignoring it。
An exquisite grace； for beauty enhanced by ingenuousness is ineffable； and nothing is so adorable as a dazzling and innocent creature who walks along； holding in her hand the key to paradise without being conscious of it。
But what she had lost in ingenuous grace； she gained in pensive and serious charm。 Her whole person； permeated with the joy of youth； of innocence； and of beauty； breathed forth a splendid melancholy。
It was at this epoch that Marius； after the lapse of six months； saw her once more at the Luxembourg。
BOOK THIRD。THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET
CHAPTER VI
THE BATTLE BEGUN
Cosette in her shadow； like Marius in his； was all ready to take fire。 Destiny； with its mysterious and fatal patience； slowly drew together these two beings； all charged and all languishing with the stormy electricity of passion； these two souls which were laden with love as two clouds are laden with lightning； and which were bound to overflow and mingle in a look like the clouds in a flash of fire。
The glance has been so much abused in love romances that it has finally fallen into disrepute。
One hardly dares to say； nowadays； that two beings fell in love because they looked at each other。 That is the way people do fall in love； nevertheless； and the only way。
The rest is nothing； but the rest es afterwards。 Nothing is more real than these great shocks which two souls convey to each other by the exchange of that spark。
At that particular hour when Cosette unconsciously darted that glance which troubled Marius； Marius had no suspicion that he had also launched a look which disturbed Cosette。
He caused her the same good and the same evil。
She had been in the habit of seeing him for a long time； and she had scrutinized him as girls scrutinize and see； while looking elsewhere。 Marius still considered Cosette ugly； when she had already begun to think Marius handsome。
But as he paid no attention to her； the young man was nothing to her。
Still； she could not refrain from saying to herself that he had beautiful hair； beautiful eyes； handsome teeth； a charming tone of voice when she heard him conversing with his rades； that he held